Aug. 9 is the birthday of Holy Cross’ first saint, Br. Andre Bessette, C.S.C.
St. Andre was a humble man who had a special devotion to St. Joseph. He is known as the “Miracle Man of Montreal” because while he was serving as doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, he prayed with the sick and many found miraculous healing. The efforts of the largely illiterate and frail man also led to the building of St. Joseph’s Oratory, Canada’s largest church and the world’s largest shrine dedicated to St. Joseph, on Mount Royal in Montreal.
When St. Andre died, more than a million people came to honor him. He was canonized on Oct. 17, 2010. His feast day is Jan. 7.
St. Joseph’s Oratory is planning a series of events in August to honor St. Andre.
